Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request

Review into prosecutions and convictions under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the Health Protection Regulations

Request

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from the Crown Prosecution Service regarding its recent review into prosecutions and convictions under the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations.

I am requesting the details of the 12 cases that were incorrectly charged under the Health Protection Regulations.

1. What was the specific charge in each case?
2. Why was the charge overturned?

Response

In response to the first part of your request the specific charge in each case are as follows:

Three cases - Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 {8(1), 12(1) (b) & (4)} Five cases - Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 {6 and 9(1) (b) & (4)} Two cases - Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 {4(1), 15(1) (a) and (5)} One case - Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 {9 (2) & (4)} One Case - Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020 {8 (1), 12(1) (b)& (4)}

In response to the second part of your request, please see below which outlines the reasoning for each of the 12 cases, where the charge was overturned under the Health Protection Regulations.

One case - Wrong Section of Regulations Three cases - Welsh Regulations in England Two cases - England Regulations in Wales Four cases - Homeless person Two cases - Regulations Repealed

Information Management Unit 020 3357 0788 IMU@cps.gov.uk